Oxytocin-mediated social preference and socially reinforced reward learning in the miniature fish Danionella cerebrum.

Integrative studies of diverse neuronal networks that govern social behavior are hindered by a lack of methods to record neural activity comprehensively across the entire brain. The recent development of the miniature fish Danionella cerebrum as a model organism offers one potential solution, as the small size and optical transparency of these animals make it possible to visualize circuit activity throughout the nervous system. Here, we establish the feasibility of using Danionella as a model for social behavior and socially reinforced learning by showing that adult fish exhibit strong affiliative tendencies and that social interactions can serve as the reinforcer in an appetitive conditioning paradigm.

Acute and circadian feedforward regulation of agouti-related peptide hunger neurons.

When food is freely available, eating occurs without energy deficit. While agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons are likely involved, their activation is thought to require negative energy balance. To investigate this, we implemented long-term, continuous in vivo fiber-photometry recordings in mice.

Modulation of cardiac autonomic activity across consciousness states and levels of sleep depth in individuals with sleep complaints and bipolar disorder or unipolar depressive disorders.

Objective: Autonomic nervous system dysfunction and reduced heart rate variability (HRV) often co-exist with mood disorders, a phenomenon likely influenced by sleep disturbances. This study investigated heart rate (HR) and HRV across wake, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and non-REM (NREM) sleep in individuals with sleep complaints and bipolar or unipolar depressive disorder.

Methods: Polysomnographic data was retrospectively collated for 120 adult patients with sleep complaints and depressive symptoms [60 diagnosed with bipolar disorder, 60 diagnosed with a unipolar depressive disorder], and 60 healthy controls.

Student access patterns for an online clinical skills procedural video library.

Clinical Relevance: Clinical skills training is essential in optometry curricula to develop core graduate entry competencies, including self-directed learning to facilitate life-long learning. Efficient and efficacious approaches are required to optimise student and educator time and resources.

Background: A video library of optometric clinical skills was created in 2012 to support self-directed student learning and face-to-face training.

The impact of a clinical academic nurse researcher in critical care: A 1-year service review.

Aims: To outline the activity and impact from implementing a clinical academic nurse researcher in a multi-centre critical care unit.

Design: A prospective exploratory activity audit informed by the Plan, Do, Study, Act framework.

Methods: Quantitative data on clinical academic activity, from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, were collected in a Microsoft Excel © [2022, version 16.